Artificial limb.



J. K. TOLES.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

Arrmoulol nnn .TAL13, 1910.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

ARTIFICIAL LIHB.

Specification of tetters Patent.

mated Jan. 3,1911.

Application filed January 13,1910. Sena-rive. 537,921.

. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to artificial limbs, and more particularly to the means whereby an artificial limb may be attached to the stum of the amputated limb of the user; one orm of means for the purpose being disclosed in my application Serial No. 506,234, filed July 6, 1909.

One object of the invention is to provide sim 1e and effective attaching means that she firmly hold the artificiallimb in place and yet permit of its ready removal.

Another object is to provide a device of this class that .shall not chafe any part of the users erson or press unduly on the limb or act to raw the scar open.

Still another object is to provide a light, cool, comfortable and easily applied attachin means.

%)ther objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in' the art from a consideration of the following description of one form of construction in which the invention may be embodied, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a ortion of an artificiallimb, showing the lmproved attaching means. 'Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly in section. ,Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional .iews illustrating the manner of action of one of the elements of the cushioning device.

Referring now to the drawings, '2 indicates theshell of the artificial limb which maybe of any suitable construction. As

indicatedat 3 the shell may be provided at its upper end, with anannular recess. This recess is adapted to receive an improved cushioning device for the stump of the am- .putated limb. This cushioning device, as

here shown, may consist of a series of resilient rings placed contiguous to each other in the recess 3. These resilient rings are preferably formed of a single length of tubing 4, of rubber or other similar matubing. may be inclosed in a covering or sleeve 5, of cotton or other inexpansible material, extending substantially from end to end thereof. This vsleeve 5, as shown in terial, wound into the form of a coil. This,

Fig. 3, is of sufliciently, larger diameter as indicated at 6, Fig, 3, thus holdin the cushioning device in its cylindrical orm. The tubing 4 is-providedat its upper end with a valve nipple"? for connection with any suitable means'of inflation-by air. .The

shell "2 maybe cut away as shown at] 8 toallow nipple 7 to'be turned outwardly as indicatedin dotted lines, Fig. 2. The cushioning device', when in position and inflated is held against movement longitudinally of the limb by means of bead 9 and. shoulder 10 at the top and bottom, respectively, of recess 3. 4

A sack 12, of rubber or any flexible ma terial that is impervious to 'air may be placed in shell 2 and has at itsu per end an outwardly facing annular bea or ring 13 of resilient material which rests adjacent to the uppermost qoii of tubing 4 and co-acts with the latter in forming a cushion for the stump of the amputated limb. Sack 12 is preferably of substantially conical shape with the exception ofthe bottom which may be rounded slightly as shown at 14. A valve 15 may be placed in the bottom of sack 12. A sheath 16 of thin leather, canvas "or other non-expansible material is preferably placed around sack- 12 and may be secured thereto at the top and bottom of the latter. Sack 12 and sheath 16 are, as shown, preferably of a diameter at their upper ends to fit fairly cl osel inside the cylindrical cushioning device efore mentioned. I v f I i The valve 15, before mentioned, may be of any suitable construction of. oneway valve, being designed to allow air to be withdrawn fromsack 12. :As here shown this valve seats-on a shoulder-17 formed in a tube 18. t6 which sack 12 is connected; inturned lugs 19 keeping-v it. in operative p0s i-' tion, This construction of valve prevents moisture, such as caused by-pe'rspiration, from accumulating in sack 12, and if desirable passages 19 may beformed in tube 18 to prevent any accumulation of moisture limb and to prevent any possibility of the .mitting this.

around the latter at the point where it is 2 connected to sack l2.

To insure that part of sack 12 toward its 5 lower end fitting snugly on the amputated 3 latter striking against shell 2. suitable means may be provided by which the lower rounded end of sack l2 and sheath 16 may be drawn downwardly, after the limb has been placed in position. j

As here illustrated, fingers 21 are. provided on tube 18, to engage with a groove in a nut 22 threaded ca a screw 20 secured in shell 2. Openings 2? may be formed in shell 2 to allow of adjustment of nut. 22, which may be as here shown formed with wings 24- or with any other convenient. device whereby it may be turned.

In fitting the device on an amputated limb the latter may be placed in sack 12 when tubing 4 is deflated. Tubing 4 is then inflated which will cause it to expand to fill sleeve 5. As will be readily understood tubing 4, on being inflated, will have a tendency to uneoil itself which will cause itto press againstthe cylindrical wall of recess 3; the fact that the coils of tubing 4 are not secured directly to one another per- This action establishes frictional contact between the coils and thecyliudrieal wall of recess 3 and aids head 9 and shoulder 10 in keeping each coil while being-inflated in the same position longitudinally of recess 3. The result is that the greater part of the expansion of tubing 4 due to inflation takes place inwardly or toward the center of the shell 2-as will be readily seen by referring to Fig. 4 in which the position of tubing 4 when deflated is shown in dotted lines and its inflated position in full lineswhich causes sack 12 to fit snugly on the amputated limb and form a resilient cushion therefor, but by reason of sleeve 5 limiting'the distention of tubing 4 the latter may be uniformly inflated with a degree of air pressure such as will insure firmness in holding the amputated limb inplace while at the same time undue pressure against the limb is prevented. After tubing 4 is inflated, nut 22 may then be adjusted todraw sack 12 and sheath 16 downwardly. To permit of th's-action, sheath 16 may be formed as shown with convolutions 26. This downward drawing action has the effect of contracting the converging walls of the lower part of sack 12 and making them fit snugly on the amputated limb and it also acts to draw the skin over the end of the latter which, as will be readily understood, will act to prevent the scar from being drawn open when the weight of the body is thrown on the limb. This downward movement also expels a portion of the air in the lower end of sack 12 which will aid in retaining the artificial limb in place as the slightest \\-'itltdrawing action would cause i a further vacuum to be formed in sack 12.

Sheath 16 prevents undue stretching of sack l2 and when drawn tautby the adjustment of nut 22. prevents the. end of the an'iputated limb from st rikiu against the shell 2. no matter what position. the limb may assume. it, when tubing 4 is inflated to the requisite firmness, there should be more pressure than is desirable on the amputated limb, recess 3 may be enlarged until only the desired pressure is exerted on the limb.

\Vhile one form of construction in which the invention may be embodied has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that various changes may be made in the construction shown and the right is reserved to all such changes as do not depart' from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an artificial limb, in combination, a shell provided with an annular recess, a cushioning device for an amputated limb disposed in said recess, said device comprising a single length of rubber tubing and a sleeve of nondistensible material extending substantially from end to end thereof wound into the form of a coil with contiguous turns, said sleeve of larger diameter than the tubing. and means whereby said tubing may be inflated by air under pressure, said device on inflation adapted to impinge against the walls of said recess and in consequence caused to expand inwardly of the shell to embrace the. amputated limb, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

2. In an artlficial limb, in combination. a shell, a sack placed within said shell, and adjustable means drawing said sack downwardly.

3. In an artificial limb, in combination, a shell, a sack formed of distensible material and placed within said shell, mea-ns drawing said sack downwardly, and means limiting the extent to which said sack can be drawn downwardly.

4. In an artificial limb, in combination, a shell, a sack formed of elastic material and placed within the shell, a sheath inclosing said sack, and adjustable means for drawing downwardly the lower ends of both the sack and sheath.

5. In an artificial limb, in combination, a shell, a sack formed of elastic material and placed within the shell, a valve in said sack, a sheath formed vof non-distensible material inclosing said sack, said sack and sheath being connected togetherat their upper and lower ends, means provided on said sheath near its lower end for allowing a limited downwardly movement thereof, and means for drawing downwardly the lower ends of both sack and sheath. I

6. In an artificial limb, the combination with a shell, of a cushioning device consisting of a coil formed of expansible tubing and a nondistensible sleeve inclosi-ng the tubing, a sack placed within said shell, and adjustable means drawing downwardly the lower end of said sack.

7. In an artificial limb, the combination with a shell, of a cushioning device consisting of a coil formed of eXpansible tubin and a nondistensible sleeve inclosing the tubing, a sack formed of elastic material and placed within the shell, a sheath inclosing the sack, and adjustable means for drawing downwardly the lower ends of both the sack and sheath.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State of California, this 7th day of January A. D. 1910.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES.

Witnesses:

ALEX CURRIE, HARRY A, BROOKS. 

